They Sold Their Souls For Rock N Roll

"...lest demons introducing lascivious songs should overthrow everything, God established the psalms, in order that singing might be both a pleasure and a help. From strange chants, harm, ruin, and many grievous matters are brought in, for those things that are lascivious and vicious in all songs settle in parts of the mind, making it softer and weaker; from the spiritual psalms, however, proceeds much of value, much utility, much sanctity, and every inducement to philosophy, for the words purify the mind and the Holy spirit descends swiftly upon the mind of the singer. For those who sing with understanding invoke the grace of the Spirit."
~ St John Chrysostom (345-407)

Pray, Watch, Study, and Pray

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2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV)

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

Pray, Watch, Study, and Pray

What Have We Learned This Year?

Three hundred and sixty five days.  Every day - a new adventure.  Every day - another opportunity to learn and grow in Christ.  Every day - planting, watering, pruning - working His nutrients (The Word of God) into the soil (the heart of man).  Every day - watching for His increase - good fruit for The Kingdom of God.

What has He taught?

What has He shown?

What have we seen?

What have we learned?

"Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else." Deuteronomy 4:39

Looking back through the year, personally, I see and repent of a failing.  This failing is hard to describe in entirety.  But what it boils down to is simple:  I'm guilty of giving the devil credit.

On this blog, one can read about the workings of the devil in the hearts of man.  One can read of the coming judgment.  One can read of "secret societies" - collaborations of men with feet that run swiftly to do evil.  One can read of the evil influences at work in the fallen world.  These things are happening.  But The Lord is not blind. 

"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3

The Lord is not powerless.

"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:" Isaiah 59:1

We are not powerless in Christ.

God hears our prayers and God answers our prayers.  Psalm 116:1-19

So when men make their plans of evil and the righteous pray in The Holy Spirit - the evil plans of men and the evil plans of the devil are thwarted.  Sinful men and the devil have no lasting power.

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." 
1 Thessalonians 5:24

This year, let us commit, with our whole hearts, to prayer - with full trust in the mighty name of Jesus.  Let us commit to prayer that shapes heaven and earth per the will of our Father in heaven.  Let Him teach us who we are in Christ and let us learn of God's perfect will.  Humbly we submit unto the Lord - for He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.  It is His will that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  (2 Peter 3:9)  So, in boldness, we go forth under the authority in Christ.  We agree with the perfect will of our Father in heaven and commit everything we have to Jesus Christ - our Lord and Savior.

May God richly bless you from this moment forward - for all eternity.

Image credit:  Wikimedia Commons